Research and Development Day

State Standards

RI GSE LS2 (9-11)

Context of Lesson

This lesson is meant to give the students in class time to work on their final project for the unit. The final project consists of making an informational brochure detailing what they have learned during this unit, as well as getting them to critically think of ways that society might help the ecosystem. This lesson is meant to give students access to in class materials as well as the opportunity to ask questions or clear up misconceptions.

Opportunities to Learn

Depth of Knowledge
Level 2
  • Summarize various topics discussed in class.
Level 3
  • Construct an informational brochure detailing concepts discussed in class and give specific examples of issues.
  • Research and formulate various ways in which people can make a positive difference to the environment.

Prerequisite Knowledge
Students should have had experience with several issues in ecology. They should have a grasp on the following topics:
  • Food webs and energy transfer through the food web
  • Endemic species in Narragansett Bay
  • Invasive species
  • Various ways in which humans alter the enviroment, leading to habitat destruction
  • Sources and types of pollution
  • Greenhouse effect
  • Global warming and it's impacts

Plans for Differentiating Instruction
Process: Differentiated instructional methods
  • Inquiry Based Learning: Use of inquiry based learning will help create a student centered learning experience. Students work at their own pace and investigate a particular species. Through their investigations and research, they will come up with information that they find relevant.

Accommodations and modifications
  • Student A: Accommodation needed for writing skills and comprehension of directions. Informational brochure rubric will be provided in order to provide explicit instructions and verbal directions will also be given to check for understanding. Accommodation can be offered to all students.
  • Other accommodations or modifications will be made according to IEP protocol.

Environmental factors
  • Lesson will take place in class
  • Laptops provided

Environmental factors
  • Classroom setting
  • Students will have access to computers as well as reference material

Materials
  • Computers
  • Reference Materials

Objectives

Students will construct an informational brochure that
  • summarizes the concepts discussed in class
  • uses specific examples researched in class to further explain larger concepts
  • formulates various ways in which humans can help the environment around them

Instruction

Opening
Question (Written on board)
  • What is an informational brochure?
  • Why would someone want to write one of these? Give an example
Segue

Engagement
  • Pass out laptops and assign them to students
  • Pass out informational brochure activity and rubric
  • Leave examples our for students to view

Closure
  • Ask students to share their concepts for the brochure
  • Remind them that they are having their unit test the next class period.
  • Advise them if they have not already, finish their brochure at home for homework.

Assessment

  • Informational Brochure

Lesson Plans Home